Ship with emergency-section.



J. HERFJORD.

SHIP wma EMERGENCY SECTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 22 l9|5v 7 1,198,439. Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

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J. HERFIORD.

SHIP WITH EMERGENCY SECTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 72, I9I5. 1,198,439.

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SHIP WITH EMERGENCY SECTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, I915.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

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SHIP WITH EMERGENCY SECTION.

APPUCATION FILED SEPT-22.19%.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22| 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB HERFJORD, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SHIP WITH EMERGENCY-SECTION.

Application filed September 22, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-JAooB HERFJORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ships with Emergency-Sections; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates particularly to seagoing vessels or ships, and has for its object to provide a simple and eflicient means for saving the lives of the crew and passengers in case of accident to the main hull of the vessel.

Generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In accordance with my invention, I provide the ship hull with a supplemental detachable section, which under normal conditions, may be used as a part of the main ship, but which, in case of accident, can be detached from the main hull of the vessel and used as a complete, though much smaller vessel. This detachable vessel or section has its own propelling and steering means together with such other desirable equipment as wireless telegraph apparatus.

A vessel designed in accordance with my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the complete vessel; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 00 m of Fig. 2; Fig. 4; is a horizontal section taken on the line 00 w of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line :0 x of Fig. at; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on the same line as Fig. 5 but on a larger scale; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line :0 v of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 1s a horizontal section of certain parts found in the vicinity of the line marked 00 m on Fig. 5, but showing the parts on a larger scale; Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on the line 00 of Fig. 3; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on the line in m of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section on the line 00 m of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a detail view in perspective showing one of the auxiliary anchoring Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Serial No. 51,996.

devices; Fig. 13 is a plan view with parts broken away, showing means for forming air-tight joints between the hull of the vessel and the detachable parts thereof; Fig. 14 is a section on the line r w of Fig. 13; and Fig. 15 is a section on the line 00 x of Fig. 13.

The main hull of the vessel is indicated as an entirety by the numeral 1. This hull will have the usual or any suitable propelling and steering mechanism, and preferably, also, other equipment, such as wireless telegraph apparatus, the masts of which telegraph apparatus are indicated by the numeral 2.

The numeral 3 indicates the upper deck structure of the vessel which is permanently carried by the hull 1.

The numeral 1 indicates the smoke stacks of the main vessel and the numeral 5, life boats with which the main vessel is also preferably equipped in the customary way.

The detachable supplemental part of the vessel is indicated, as an entirety, by the numeral 6, and it is applied on the rear portion of the hull 1, above the normal water line, and just at the rear of the upper deck structure 3, the hull being especially constructed to receive the same. When the supplemental part 6 is in position, it constitutes a usable part of the vessel proper, butwhen it is set loose, it will float and carry the crew and passengers of the entire boat. As shown, it is formed with a nearly flat bottom plate 7 preferably of sheet steel, and which, preferably, is slightly concave in cross section, as best shown in Fig. 5, and the hull 1, at its rear portion, is formed with a light sheet metal deck 8 that is below the main deck of the hull and extends parallel to the said bottom 7, but is slightly spaced therefrom. At its sides and rear, the shell of the detachable supplemental vessel 6 is shown as provided with depending joint strips 9 that overlie the adjacent rear upper edges of the hull 1, (see Figs. 5 and 6).

As preferably constructed, the supplemental vessel 6 has a closed lower deck compartment and a more or less open, but covered upper deck compartment 11; and at its central portion, it is formed with a hatchway 10 that extends through the compartment 10 and into the compartment 11. At that end which is normally forward but which will serve as the rear end of the supplemental vessel when the same is set afloat,

there is an inclosed engine room 13 in which there is a motor 1 1, preferably of the internal combustion type. This engine l-l: drives a propeller 15 shown as located within a compartment 16 in the adjacent end of the hull of the supplemental vessel. The said supplemental vessel 6 may and should also have its own steering mechanism, but this steering mechanism may take various forms and be applied in various different ways.

At that end of the supplemental vessel which is normally forward, its closed lower compartment is formed with an inclined wall 17 see particularly Figs 3, 10 and 11), that closely fits a correspondingly formed tight wall 17 on the main hull 1, in such manner, however, that the propeller 15 is inclosed and protected. The bottom of the supplemental vessel immediately above its bottom plate 7, is preferably formed with a multiplicity of air compartments 18. Endless air-tight joint strips 19 and 20 are interposed between the deck plate 8 of the main hull l and the bottom plate 7 of the supplemental vessel. Both of these joint strips, as shown, follow an approximately rectangular course, but the joint strip 19 closely follows around the lower portion of the hatch 10, while the joint strip 20 is spaced outward therefrom a very considerable distance, so as to leave vacuum chambers 21 and 22 between the said plates 7 and S. The said chambers 21 and 22 are separated by joint strips 23 that extend from one side to the other of the sides of the endless joint strip 20. The said joint strips 19, 20 and 23 are all of like construction and are indicated, as entireties, by the numerals above given, but each such joint strip is preferably made up of metallic spacing strips (4 and compressible backing strips Z), the latter being of rubber or other compressible and more or less elastic material. The sections of the joint strips (4, at their abutting ends, are provided with lugs 0, interposed backing strips (Z, and nut-equipped coupling bolts f (see particularly Figs. 13, 14 and 15). Also, the said joint strips a are preferably loosely anchored, by bolt and pin connections 9, to angle beams 2 1 secured on the deck plate 8 (see particularly Figs. 8 and 13).

To hold the supplemental vessel tight on the deck plate 8, of the main hull under normal conditions, a partial vacuum is maintained in the above noted chambers 21 and 22; and to do this, pipes 25 are extended, respectively, from the said chambers through the undercompartment of the main deck and to a vacuum tank 27 in which a partial vacuum is maintained by air pumps, not shown. To admit air into these vacuum chambers in emergency, or when it is desired to release the supplemental vessel 6,

messes air-tight valves 25 are shown as applied to ports formed in. the bottom plate 7 of the said supplemental vessel (see particularly Figs. 4 and .5). These valves 25 are located where they may be opened from the lower deck or floor of the supplemental vessel.

lVhen the partial vacuum is maintained in the said chambers 21 and 2, the bottom plate 7 of the supplemental vessel (3 will be tightly drawn downward and the pliable backings 7) will be compressed against the plates 7 and S, as best shown in Figs. 1% and 15, thereby maintaining tight joints. Obviously, when the air is admitted into the chambers 21 and 22, the supplemental vessel (5 will be free to float off from the hull whenever the. hull of the main vessel is submerged- In some cases it may be desirable to provide supplemental, positively acting lock devices for securing the supplemental vessel 6 to the main hull. Such supplemental looking devices are shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9 to 12, inclusive. The lock devices, as shown in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, include short perforated coupling bars 28 and wedges 29. The bars 28 are passed through perforations in the oblique transverse plates 17 and 17, respectively, of the supplemental vessel 6 and hull l, and the wedges are driven against the said plates, as best shown in Figs. 10 and 11.. When the wedges on either side are knocked out, these coupling devices are released.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, T-bolts 29 are arranged to work in slotted brackets 30 applied, one on each side of the rear portion of the main hull, and extend upward through perforations in the deck plates 7 and S, and provided at their upper ends with wedge seats 81, through which wedges 32 are adapted to be driven, as best shown in. Fig. 7, to securely fasten the said supplemental vessel to the main hull. A block and tackle 33 with chain connection. 3% is adapted to be hooked to the upper ends of the bolts 29, to draw the same upward and the sides of the supplemental vessel 6 downward, to thereby permit application of the wedges As is evident, when the Wedges 32 are driven out from their seats, the bolts 29 will drop by gravity into releasing positions. When the said bolts are dropped, the holes in the bottom plate 7 through which they are passed, are adapted to be closed by valves 35 shown in Fig. 6.

The supplemental vessel, in addition to the equipment already specifically described, is provided with wireless apparatus, including an antenna 36 supported by masts 37; and it is also preferably provided with life boats 38.

The operation and purpose of this invention are thought to be clear from the foregoing statements.

By reference to Figs. 9 and 10, it will be noted that the rear end wall of the detachable floating section or vessel 6 has doorways 39 that normally open into one of the upper compartments of the main hull. These doorways 39 are adapted to be tightly closed by sliding doors 40, when the detachable section is disconnected from the main hull. It will thus be seen that when the supplemental or detachable section or vessel 6 is applied to the main hull, it becomes a supplemental usable part thereof.

The hatching in the supplemental vessel may be provided with suitably glazed windows so that it will aflord light to the surrounding compartments. WVhen the supplemental vessel is held to the main hull by partial vacuum, it may be released instantly; but even when secured by the mechanical fastening devices, it can be released in a very few minutes.

What I claim is:

1. In a vessel, the combination with a main hull, of a detachable floating supplemental section, and means for producing a partial vacuum between the said main hull structure and said detachable section for normally holding the latter in position on the said hull.

2. In a vessel, the combination with a main hull, of a detachable floating supple mental section, and means for producing a partial vacuum between the said main hull structure and said detachable section for normally holding the latter in position on the said hull, and auxiliary mechanical couplings arranged for detachably holding the said detachable section to the said hull.

3. In a vessel, the combination with a main hull of a detachable floating supplemental section detachably anchored to a deck portion of the said hull, oint strips afford.

ing vacuum chambers between the bottom of said detachable section and the underlying deck portion of said hull, and means for maintaining partial vacuum in said vacuum chambers to detachably hold said floating section to the said hull.

4. In a vessel, the combination with a main hull, of a detachable floating section adapted to carry passengers and crew of the vessel, detachably seated on the deck portion of said hull, said detachable sect-ion having a hatchway opening therethrough, and inner and outer joint strips surrounding the lower extremity of said hatchway and interposed between the bottom of said detachable section and the underlying deck portion of said hull, and means for maintaining a partial vacuum in the chambers located between the said inner and outer joint strips.

5. In a vessel, the combination with a main hull, of a detachable floating section adapted to carry passengers and crew of the vessel, detachably seated on the deck portion of said hull, said detachable section having a hatchway opening therethrough, and inner and outer joint strips surrounding the lower extremity of said hatchway and interposed between the bottom of said detachable section and the underlying deck portion of said hull, means for maintaining a partial vacuum in the chambers located between the said inner and outer joint strips, and separable mechanical auxiliary fasteners between said hull and detachable section.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB HERFJORD.

Witnesses:

BERNICE G. WHEELER, HARRY D. KILGORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

